The Real Reason Keshia Knight Pulliam Didn’t Call Bill Cosby

After Sunday’s premiere of the latest season of Donald Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice, viewers and the blogosphere alike were outraged by Trump’s decision to fire actress Keshia Knight Pulliam after her refusal to call her former sitcom dad Bill Cosby for fundraising help. Last night, the former child star clarified exactly why she didn’t make the call.

Famous for her portrayal of the adorable Rudy Huxtable on The Cosby Show, Keshia Knight Pulliam was razzed and bullied in Trump’s boardroom for refusing to call Cosby to help her team raise funds for charity. Pulliam remained quiet for most of the extremely uncomfortable argument, but left it with, “For me to pick up the phone, having not talked to you for five years, except for when we run into each other for a Cosby event, I feel that’s not my place to do.”

This, apparently, wasn’t good enough for The Donald, who swiftly fired Pulliam, not having any clue, like the rest of the nation, that the very subject would be publicly accused of multiple rape allegations after filming wrapped.

Even with the surrounding controversy of Trump’s decision and Pulliam’s possible knowledge of Cosby’s past, the actress stuck to her guns and all but repeated herself toAccess Hollywood. “I did not feel calling on Cosby was necessary. Truth be told, had all of our teammates contributed as much time as they spent throwing me under the bus and actually had put in some more work, we would have fared much better.”

When asked about the Cosby allegations, Pulliam was matter-of-fact: “Ultimately, I can’t speak to that. Whoever is involved, those are the people who were there. I wasn’t there.” She went on to say, “Unfortunately, in the court of public opinion everyone has formed their opinion, but we’re still in America and you’re innocent until proven guilty of any crimes.”